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Effingham County approves $56,450 from reserves for courthouse clock tower shake repair, trims security camera funding
Summary
The county board moved $130,000 from general fund reserves to the capital improvement fund, split a $125,000 security-camera appropriation to create a $56,450 line for clock tower shake repairs and approved a $96,450 contractor change order after the museum board pledged $40,000.
Effingham County board members voted to reallocate capital funds and approve an immediate repair to the historic courthouse clock tower, authorizing $56,450 from the capital improvement fund toward a contractor change order and reducing a security-camera appropriation.
The board voted to set aside $130,000 from general fund reserves for the capital improvement fund, then approved a modification to the FY 2025 capital improvement list that reduced the security-camera line from $125,000 to $68,550 and added a new $56,450 line item for clock-tower shake replacement. The board subsequently approved a $96,450 change order for contractor work on the clock tower; the Effingham County Museum Board pledged $40,000 toward that change order.
The board chair urged the board to approve the clock tower work now because crews already have lifts on site and matching shake material available. “I do think we need to just get this clock tower done,” the chair said during the discussion. County staff reported the overall project exceeded $199,000, and that a statutory 50% limit on change-order work applies; the proposed change order of $96,450 was presented as within that constraint.
Board members debated whether the county should instead draw the needed funds from contingency but concluded that dipping into contingency this early in the fiscal year would consume a large share of that reserve. Several members asked whether the contractor had sufficient leftover shakes to cover the tower; staff said there was roughly $8,000 of matching material on hand and additional discounts were included in the contractor’s figure, but a final materials confirmation would be provided.
Tim Ellis moved to transfer $130,000 from general fund reserves to the capital improvement fund; Jeremy Daters seconded. Roll-call votes recorded in the minutes show the motion carried with affirmative votes from Mike Buzzard; Doug McCain; Sandy Rich; Jeremy Daters; Norbert Saltwheedle; Tim Ellis; Dave Campbell; and Chris Keller.
Chris Keller moved to reduce the security camera line and add the clock-tower line as described; Norbert Saltwheedle seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members voting yes.
Keller later moved to approve the $96,450 change order (the full contractor amount), with the museum board’s $40,000 commitment expected to reduce the county share to $56,450. Mike Buzzard seconded; a roll-call vote recorded all board members voting yes.
Board members said they want to keep the security-camera upgrade on the board’s radar and recommended soliciting an RFP later in the year to firm up cost estimates before finalizing additional funding. Staff recommended an RFP in August or September to get a reliable price and avoid supply-chain timing issues.
The board’s action splits the FY 2025 capital plan to address immediate building repairs while preserving a portion of the security-camera project for future funding decisions.
